Accident Details
The incident occurred during a takeoff from a grass field with a length of 1,000 feet. The field had a downhill slope in the direction of takeoff. The airplane became airborne but then struck a barbed wire fence at the field's end. The fence bordered a road, and after the impact, the airplane came to rest in a ditch alongside that road. The grass field was unpaved and sloped downward.
Witness Information
The passenger who was on the airplane reported that the grass on the field was approximately 2 to 3 feet high. This statement was the only direct account of the field conditions available to investigators.
Investigation Challenges
Investigators made numerous attempts to obtain a completed pilot/operator report of the accident, but these attempts were unsuccessful. Consequently, the investigation was limited to the passenger's report and the physical evidence at the scene.